Picking Decoys
09-11-2008, 12:04 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Florissant, Missouri
Posts: 1,006
Picking Decoys
Ok...so I will say right off the bat that this is my first hunting season ever. I am wondering what type of teal decoys to get if I could only choose one. Dont have the money to get two dozen or i would get green and blue. My brother has a couple dozen mallard decoys and we were wanting something to mix it up with. For the early teal season....should I go with a dozen blue or green teal decoys?
09-11-2008, 12:16 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Florissant, Missouri
Posts: 1,006
RE: Picking Decoys
That is what my brother keeps telling me...I plan on getting into dove too. But planning my first teal outing this saturday in Missouri. Thanks for the advice! I greatly appreciate it.
09-11-2008, 12:27 PM
#5
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Florissant, Missouri
Posts: 1,006
RE: Picking Decoys
Thanks again for the advice.....any other advice would be helpful too....like i said,I am really new to hunting period. Does anyone know anything about the hunting conditions in Missouri this year so far?
09-11-2008, 12:38 PM
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Florissant, Missouri
Posts: 1,006
RE: Picking Decoys
Oh and one more question....I have noticed that some places sell different green teal decoys. Some I guess have them i later season color with the yellow on the chest. Will that make a difference? Is one better than the other? Or are they both more effective early or late in the season?
09-11-2008, 10:15 PM
#8
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 314
RE: Picking Decoys
Greenhead Gear makes some nice looking ones. They most closely resemble a real teal in my opinion. You can check them out at Mack's Prairie Wings. http://www.mackspw.com/ItemList--Gre...d-Teals--m-776 You don't need a full dozen, but it won't hurt either.
Teal come in wads of several birds at a time. Their call is a very distinct "peep." I have had good luck with teal in the early and late season hunting them in timber or along the banks and eddy holes of rivers. If you can find an patch of water or an oxbow in some flooded timber or in a river bottom, you'll be into some ducks. They'll generally fly out over your hole seemingly at the speed of light (they actually make a "whoosh" sound as they pass), turn on a dime, and light somewhere within 15-30 yards of the bank/shore. They'll cluster up and hang out for a while. Therefore, I like to set up teal spreads in loose clusters. I'll put 3-5 together in one spot and put another 3-5 spot. Just hang out and let the decoys do the work. I generally let them decoy before I get to shooting. If they light into the decoys, either take a crack at one on the water (someone's gonna grill me for telling you to shoot a duck on the water
) and the rest will get up like a bunch of Titan missiles and hopefully you can connect with your second and third shots. An alternative to actually shooting one on the water is to say, "Hey!" or grunt like you're trying to stop a moving deer. Their heads will all pop up and come to attention, they'll either cluster up or sit still as statues. A second, "Hey!" and they'll get up and you better have the gun ready.
Sorry for the novel, your question just got me thinking about it. Good luck to you buddy.
Oh, almost forgot the doves.
Chapter 2, Best way to get after some doves is to buddy up with someone with a "dove field," which usually entails sunflowers or some grain cut into loosely organized rows. Take a couple boxes of shells (three boxes if you're a bad shot), get a stool, pick a spot where you can see the horizon, and just sit still. Shoot them when they come along. Doves are fast-fliers, but skeet shooting can improve your success and train you on leading birds.
Teal come in wads of several birds at a time. Their call is a very distinct "peep." I have had good luck with teal in the early and late season hunting them in timber or along the banks and eddy holes of rivers. If you can find an patch of water or an oxbow in some flooded timber or in a river bottom, you'll be into some ducks. They'll generally fly out over your hole seemingly at the speed of light (they actually make a "whoosh" sound as they pass), turn on a dime, and light somewhere within 15-30 yards of the bank/shore. They'll cluster up and hang out for a while. Therefore, I like to set up teal spreads in loose clusters. I'll put 3-5 together in one spot and put another 3-5 spot. Just hang out and let the decoys do the work. I generally let them decoy before I get to shooting. If they light into the decoys, either take a crack at one on the water (someone's gonna grill me for telling you to shoot a duck on the water
) and the rest will get up like a bunch of Titan missiles and hopefully you can connect with your second and third shots. An alternative to actually shooting one on the water is to say, "Hey!" or grunt like you're trying to stop a moving deer. Their heads will all pop up and come to attention, they'll either cluster up or sit still as statues. A second, "Hey!" and they'll get up and you better have the gun ready. Sorry for the novel, your question just got me thinking about it. Good luck to you buddy.
Oh, almost forgot the doves.
Chapter 2, Best way to get after some doves is to buddy up with someone with a "dove field," which usually entails sunflowers or some grain cut into loosely organized rows. Take a couple boxes of shells (three boxes if you're a bad shot), get a stool, pick a spot where you can see the horizon, and just sit still. Shoot them when they come along. Doves are fast-fliers, but skeet shooting can improve your success and train you on leading birds.
09-13-2008, 10:57 AM
#10
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Florissant, Missouri
Posts: 1,006
RE: Picking Decoys
Just got back from the first hunt of my career.....it was moderately dissapointing. Didn't see a single duck...we gave that up about 9 and tried for some dove. We only saw one and we both missed it. But on the way home we saw 60 of them on the power lines...so my new plan is to shoot them off the power lines. Any advice? We were at a place in St. Louis for the duck and Bush wildlife for the doves. If you are from around Missouri and know of anything better, I would appreciate the tips. Thanks guys. I didnt get to test the grunting strategy, but I will give it a try as soon as i get the chance. Thanks!